The gorgeous Maya Jama is currently hosting Love Island All Stars on ITV2, but her own romantic history is pretty villa-worthy itself – until she met current boyfriend Ruben Dias, that is.
Maya and Manchester City and Portugal defender Ruben Dias have been dating since late 2024. The pair reportedly met at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November of that year and he was exactly her type on paper.
But who has Maya, 31, been linked to before Ruben? Her love life has been a rollercoaster, filled with a shock murder, a failed engagement and a very high-profile on/off romance…
Maya Jama’s first boyfriend was murdered
Before she found fame, a young Maya was loved up with boyfriend Rico Gordon.
However, tragedy struck when Rico, who was 21, was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time while on the phone to Maya, who was 16.
He was asking for directions to her house in Bristol back in 2011 when he was tragically killed. Rico was caught in the crossfire between two rival gangs, and Maya heard the harrowing gunfight over the phone.
Two men have since been sentenced to life imprisonment. A third has never been identified.
‘I went through a lot’
Rico’s devastated mother Anna said that the young couple had been so in love. After his death, she welcomed Maya into the family home to grieve in Rico’s bedroom. She told The Sun: “Maya blamed herself after what happened, but then everyone blamed themselves.”
Maya has also spoken about the death of Rico. Speaking to Cosmopolitan in 2020, she revealed: “When I was 16 I went through a lot. With my boyfriend passing, it gave me a fearless approach to things. I felt like life was really short.”
She continued: “Out of everything that has happened in my life, that was a reality check on a massive scale. At 16 you think the world is a fairy tale and it took me out of that. It made me even more determined.”
Maya also previously recalled: “That’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. It was unreal – the sort of thing that happens in films.
Eagle-eyed fans will have doubtless noticed that Maya has a few tattoos, including one on her side.
That tattoo, a set of initials in swirling text, is actually a tribute to Rico. It spells out the initials RG.
Maya Jama and boyfriend Stormzy – 2015-2019
The couple’s high-profile relationship was on and off over the years.
TV presenter Maya and rapper Stormzy first started dating in 2015. They met the year before, and fans were quick to call them couple goals whenever pics appeared of them on social media. He said at the time: “I’m still so young but I want to propose, it’s going to happen and I will do it right. She is so sick, she is the best.”
However, things came crumbling down in 2019 amid rumours he’d cheated on Maya – something he denies. A source at the time said: “Maya has moved out of their home in South West London. The decision isn’t one she has come to lightly, but ultimately the relationship has come to an end. She wants to focus on her TV and radio career for now.”
‘We were just little babies’
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Maya has since lifted the lid on their split. She said: “We were so young when we met, just beginning our careers. I was starting at MTV. He’d not even released a single at that point. We were just little babies.
“I don’t think either of us knew it was going to be such a big thing. We were just young and in love and we’re going to go for it and work really hard. We’re just together. We never really did red carpets. We didn’t do any of that stuff.”
Stormzy spoke about it too, apologising for acting with disrespect towards Maya. “Do you know what? I actually didn’t cheat. I swear to God, I didn’t cheat. So we had broken up and I was out publicly being a rapper, being very inconsiderate to the fact that I’ve just come out of the most public relationship.
“We’d broken up and I went out and I acted disrespectfully. I was just out in clubs. I knew the world still thought I was in a relationship and I was out looking like I didn’t give a [bleep]. It didn’t need to be cheating for it to be a disrespect.”
Ben Simmons – 2021–2022
Things got pretty serious pretty quickly for Maya and Australian-born basketball pro Ben Simmons after her first split from Stormzy.
The couple, who are believed to have split their time between London and Los Angeles, first started dating in May 2021. They sealed things with a very public kiss at Wimbledon that summer before getting engaged between Christmas and New Year.
However, conflicting schedules apparently brought an end to their relationship in August 2022.
Maya Jama rekindles romance with Stormzy – 2023-2024
The rapper clearly did a lot of grovelling, with the older and wiser lovebirds confirming their rekindled romance in August 2023.
Maya also spoke about getting back with Stormzy during the Love Island All Stars 2024 final. Her comments came as she spoke to All Stars contestant Callum about the viewers wanting him to get back with ex Molly.
Maya said: “It did seem to come as a bit of a shock to you Callum when you heard the public wanted you two to get back together. I mean I can relate, I had a lot of people saying I should get back with my ex and sometimes it is just not what you’re ready for.”
The presenter then added: “He is over there so it worked out in the end.”
However, the pair publicly announced their break-up in December 2024, with a lengthy Instagram post.
They said: “We still think the absolute world of each other, we still care and respect each other, we are still grateful for the time we’ve had together, and we are still friends and will always be friends. Announcing this feels so dramatic, but we’re doing it so that it kind of takes away the drama and avoids speculation and rumours.”
Maya Jama and boyfriend Ruben Dias – 2025-to date
Following the end of her relationship with Stormzy, Maya met a new man – footballer Ruben Dias. Their romance was confirmed publicly in early 2025 when they were seen together at events and on social media, including a pitch-side appearance at a football match and shared travel photos.
Since then, the pair have moved in together in Cheshire. They’re currently living in the Omaze mansion, with rent said to cost £20k a month. However, earlier this year, while Maya was in South Africa for All Stars and Ruben was playing an away game, the home was burgled.
A source told The Sun: “Maya was very proud to move into her first home with Ruben and took lots of videos and pictures while in the house which she posted on her social media. Previously in their relationship, she was back and forth from London and he was living in a city centre flat. That’s why this property means so much to them.”
View this post on Instagram
‘The next person I meet I want to marry and have kids with’
The relationship must mean a lot to her too. Shortly before meeting him, she told the Standard: “I am so happy right now but the next person I meet I want to marry and have kids with, so obviously I’m feeling fussy. I’ve created such a nice life for myself alone and I don’t want anyone who’s not going to add to that. I’m in this lovely bubble and I don’t want you unless you make me happy. If you’re not, I kind of don’t need you.”
Read more: Maya Jama looks other-worldly as she strips to her underwear
Love Island All Stars is on ITV2 every night at 9pm.
So what do you think? Tell us on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.